River Dolphins Survey: A Milestone in India’s Wildlife Conservation

Survey Highlights:

• A comprehensive survey under Project Dolphin estimated a total of 6,327 river dolphins across India.
• The study covered over 8,000 km along 58 rivers in 8 states: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab.
• Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest count with 2,397 dolphins, followed by Bihar with 2,220 dolphins.

Key Details:

• Conducted between 2021 and 2023, this is one of the world’s largest freshwater surveys.
• Both boat and road surveys were used to ensure accurate data collection.
• The findings reveal that dolphins thrive in areas with adequate water depth and minimal human disturbances.

Species Focus:

• The primary species, the Ganges River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica), inhabits the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna River system found across India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan.
• A small population of the Indus River Dolphin was also recorded in the Indus River system.

Conservation & Government Initiatives:

• Project Dolphin was launched on 15 August 2020 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as part of efforts to conserve India’s aquatic ecosystems.
• The project is spearheaded by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and the Wildlife Institute of India.
• Authorities are now focusing on establishing Dolphin Conservation Zones in regions with high dolphin density.

Additional Information:

Ganges River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica):

• Scientific Classification: Belongs to the order Cetacea and family Platanistidae.
• IUCN Status: Classified as ‘Endangered’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
• National Aquatic Animal: Declared as the National Aquatic Animal of India in 2009.
• Physical Characteristics:
  • Characterized by a long, pointed snout and a rounded belly.
  • Have a low triangular dorsal fin and large flippers.
  • Unique echolocation system that helps them navigate and hunt in murky river waters.
• Habitat: Primarily found in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu River systems of India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
• Ecological Role: Plays a vital role in maintaining the river ecosystem by controlling fish populations and indicating river health.

Wildlife Institute of India (WII):

• Autonomous Institution: Premier institution under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India.
• Established in: 1982
• Location: Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
• Mandate: To build capacity and research expertise to strengthen wildlife conservation in India.
• Functions:
  • Conducts research on various aspects of wildlife conservation.
  • Provides training programs for wildlife managers, researchers, and conservationists.
  • Offers academic courses in wildlife science.
  • Advises the government on wildlife policy and management issues.

World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF):

• International Non-Governmental Organization: Global organization working on wilderness preservation and the reduction of humanity’s footprint on the environment.
• Founded in: 1961.
• Headquarters: Gland, Switzerland.
• Mission: To conserve nature and reduce the most pressing threats to the diversity of life on Earth.
• Work Areas: Focuses on various global issues including:
  • Wildlife conservation.
  • Forest conservation.
  • Oceans and coasts.
  • Climate change.
  • Water resources.
  • Sustainable agriculture.
• WWF-India: Established in 1969, it is one of the largest conservation organizations in India.

2nd Asian Yogasana Championship: India to Host in March 2025

Event Details:

• Dates: March 29–31, 2025
• Venue: Indira Gandhi Arena, New Delhi
• Organized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, in collaboration with the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Yogasana Bharat.
• The championship is designed to promote Yogasana as a competitive sport on an international platform while honouring its rich cultural roots.

Key Objectives:

• Global Recognition: The event aims to establish Yogasana as a globally recognized sport and work toward its inclusion in multi-sport events like the Olympics.
• Athletic Excellence: It will feature top athletes from across Asia, showcasing balance, strength, flexibility, and the discipline required in competitive Yogasana.
• Cultural Heritage: Celebrates India’s legacy as the birthplace of Yoga, emphasizing its benefits for both physical fitness and holistic well-being.

Additional Information:

National Yogasana Sports Federation (NYSF):

• Apex Body: The NYSF is the national governing body for Yogasana sport in India.  
• Recognition: Recognized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India.
• Objectives:
  • To promote and popularize Yogasana as a competitive sport across India.
  • To standardize rules and regulations for Yogasana competitions.
  • To develop a national Yogasana team to represent India in international events.
  • To conduct national and international Yogasana championships in India.
• Role in Championship: As the organizer of the 2nd Asian Yogasana Championship, NYSF plays a crucial role in the event’s planning, execution, and success.

Asian Yogasana Championship:

• Continental Competition: The Asian Yogasana Championship is the premier continental-level competition for Yogasana athletes in Asia.
• First Edition: The 1st Asian Yogasana Championship was held, paving the way for the sport’s growth in the region.

Navratna Status for IRCTC & IRFC

What is Navratna Status?

• A prestigious recognition granted to select public sector enterprises (PSEs), allowing them enhanced financial autonomy and managerial freedom.
• The status enables companies to make strategic decisions independently, boosting efficiency and competitiveness.

Key Players: IRCTC & IRFC

• IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation):
  • Manages railway catering, tourism, and online ticketing services.
  • With Navratna status, it can further innovate and expand its services, contributing significantly to the Indian travel and tourism sector.
• IRFC (Indian Railway Finance Corporation):
  • Responsible for raising funds for railway projects, including modernization and expansion.
  • The enhanced autonomy under Navratna status will facilitate quicker decision-making on investments and strategic projects.

Key Benefits of Navratna Status:

• Enhanced Financial Autonomy:
  • Increased Investment Limit: Navratna companies can now invest up to ₹1,000 crore or 15% of their net worth on a single project, or ₹3,000 crore or 30% of their net worth in aggregate annually, without seeking government approval.  
  • Joint Ventures and Subsidiaries: Greater freedom to enter into joint ventures, form alliances, and establish subsidiaries both domestically and internationally.  
• Operational Flexibility:
  • Organizational Restructuring: More autonomy in deciding on organizational structure and human resource management.  
  • Technology Adoption: Easier to adopt advanced technologies and modernize operations to improve service delivery.
• Improved Market Position:
  • Enhanced Brand Image: Navratna status enhances the brand image and credibility of these companies, making them more attractive to investors and partners.
  • Global Expansion: Increased capabilities to expand operations and explore business opportunities globally.  
• Boost to Efficiency and Competitiveness: Overall, the Navratna status aims to make these Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs) more efficient, competitive, and profitable.  

Additional Information:

Navratna Status:

• Category of PSEs: ‘Navratna’ is a prestigious status conferred by the Indian government to select Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs) that have shown strong financial performance and operational efficiency.  
• Objective: To provide these identified PSEs with greater autonomy to compete effectively in the globalized market.  
• Criteria for Navratna Status:
  • Must be a Miniratna Category-I company and listed on the stock exchange.
  • Should have obtained a score of 60 out of 100 based on parameters like net profit, net worth, total manpower cost, total cost of production, capital employed, etc.
• Other Higher Categories: Above Navratna, there are also Maharatna and Miniratna categories which denote different levels of financial and operational autonomy.
  • Maharatna: The highest status, allowing even greater investment limits and decision-making power.  
  • Miniratna: Further divided into Category-I and Category-II, with varying degrees of autonomy.  

Department of Public Enterprises (DPE):

• Nodal Department: The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE), under the Ministry of Finance, is the nodal department for policy matters related to Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs).  
• Functions:
  • Formulates policies related to CPSEs, including their classification (like Navratna, Maharatna, Miniratna).  
  • Monitors the performance of CPSEs.
  • Plays a role in disinvestment and privatization of PSEs.
  • Acts as an interface between CPSEs and other government departments.

Strengthening WASH Cooperation: India & Nepal Forge a New Partnership

Key Event:

• India and Nepal have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost cooperation in the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector, including waste management.
• The signing ceremony took place at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi.

Officials Present:

• Shri C R Patil, Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Government of India.
• Shri Pradeep Yadav, Hon’ble Minister of Water Supply, Government of Nepal.

Main Objectives of the MoU:

• Capacity Building: Launch of training programs for Nepali personnel in water resource management and related fields.
• Technology & Knowledge Transfer: Sharing of technological expertise and best practices to enhance WASH initiatives in both countries.
• Groundwater Management: Joint efforts in monitoring, assessing, and managing groundwater resources, including quality improvement measures, artificial recharge, and rainwater harvesting.

Manan Kumar Mishra Re-Elected as BCI Chairman for 7th Term

• Re-election: Senior advocate Manan Kumar Mishra re-elected as Chairman of the Bar Council of India for the seventh consecutive term.
• Political Role: Also serves as a BJP Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha from Bihar.
• Press Release: BCI issued a press release after his win, expressing his gratitude.
• Leadership: Continuous leadership in the Bar Council of India underscores his significant influence.

EU Commission Proposes 800-Billion-Euro Defence Plan

• Proposal: European Commission proposes joint EU borrowing of 150 billion euros for defence.
• Overall Plan: Part of an 800 billion euros financing effort to boost Europe’s defence capabilities.
• Objectives: Enhance interoperability among EU member states, build pan-European defence systems.
• Specific Focus: Investment in air and missile defence, artillery systems, missiles, drones, anti-drone systems, cyber, and military mobility.
• Spending Flexibility: Proposal includes lifting limits on government spending for defence investments.
• EU Budget: Governments can use EU budget funds for defence purposes.
• Potential Impact: Creating fiscal space of up to 650 billion euros if member states increase defence spending by 1.5% of GDP.
• Outcome: Mobilize close to 800 billion euros for a safe and resilient Europe, strengthening the defence industrial base.

Trump Declares English as Official Language of the US

• Executive Order: Donald Trump signed an executive order making English the official language of the United States.
• Rescinded Policy: The order overturns a 2000 mandate requiring federal agencies to provide language assistance to non-English speakers.
• Objective: Aim to streamline communication and reinforce shared national values.
• Impact: Largely symbolic with no changes required to federal programs; agencies may continue current language assistance policies.
• Reactions:
  • Supporters: View it as a step towards national unity.
  • Critics: Argue it may harm non-English speakers and reduce the US’s global competitiveness.

Firefly’s Blue Ghost Mission 1 Successfully Lands on the Moon

• Event: Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander successfully landed on the moon.
• Date: The landing occurred on March 1, 2025.
• Significance: Blue Ghost is the second privately built spacecraft to make a soft landing on the moon.
• Location: Landed on a lava plain on the moon’s near side.
• Achievement: Marked a significant milestone for private space exploration.
• Future Plans: Two more private lunar landers are expected to join Blue Ghost soon.